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9 March 1862
Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878
to his family
Describes the other officers aboard the Sentinal. Considers the possibility of the regiment going to Beaufort or Newbern. Written on board the ship "the Sentinal."
GLC03603.085
15 March 1862
Opens by declaring, "I can now write with truth that I have been in a battle and really under fire." Writes in great detail about the battle and the 8th Regiment taking over an abandoned rebel fort. Discusses the "plunder" he finds and of files of...
GLC03603.086
16 March 1862
Reports that Captain Upham is in critical condition after being shot in the battle. Explains that the surgeons were unable to extract the musket ball. Of his performance he writes "I know no one will say that I behaved cowardly in the least." Also...
GLC03603.087
17 March 1862
Describes the circumstances under which Mr. Woolley, Captain Uphan, and Lieutenant Ives have resigned or otherwise left the service. Also critiques reporters' accounts of the battle and attempts to describe the battle more clearly for his family...
GLC03603.088
Writes a brief note on the back of a hand-written report. Reports that they have yet to leave for Beaufort but that they are expected to march 35-40 miles.
GLC03603.089
20 March 1862
Describes boarding "the Sentinel" and rowing to Newbern [North Carolina] to eat dinner at a hotel. Gives the death toll of the last battle as two dead and four wounded.
GLC03603.090
27 March 1862
Writes of the trip from Newbern, up Slocum's Creek to Carolina (most likely North Carolina). Describes conditions of the camps and on the march. Also thanks his family for the maps they have sent him. Written from "Carolina City."
GLC03603.091
Criticizes McClellan and gives his opinion on the Union military strategy employed in the war. Writes of having a new horse which came to him with musket ball wounds. Mentions that it is his birthday and he had not realized it until dating the letter...
GLC03603.092
4 April 1862
Writes of his promotion to Captain of Company B. Mentions that his new title reminds him of "another Captain Coit" (perhaps his father or another relative). The promotion means he gets his own quarters and he says he will miss bunking with the Field...
GLC03603.093
7 April 1862
Writes about detailing an orderly to help him with his paperwork. Instead of helping, the orderly left names off of the roll call and spilled two bottles of ink. Written from "Carolina City," most likely in North Carolina.
GLC03603.094
16 April 1862
Discusses feeling very ill and being treated with quinine pills which seemed to make his fever worse. Also writes of having to fire his servant, Charles, because of drunkenness and various brushes with trouble.
GLC03603.095
18 April 1862
Responds to his mother's concerns expressed in a previous letter. She had written that "Rev. Mr. Hall" had reported to her that Coit was looking very thin through the face. Coit responds by saying he has never seen or met Hall and that his mother...
GLC03603.096
24 April 1862
Responds to news from home by saying that one of his family's boarders should be kicked out. Further says that the boarder's sons are despicable soldiers and write home with lies that are then transmitted to his family. Complains of body lice and...
GLC03603.098
26 April 1862
Writes with instructions on where to send his new trunk. Also complains that a box he was expecting is most likely being enjoyed by another regiment and is unlikely to reach him.
GLC03603.099
The letter begins "Fort Macon is ours." Writes of the rebel troops manning the fort raising the white flag and surrendering. Believes that the 8th Regiment should be allowed to raise their flag over the conquered fort as it was rightfully their...
GLC03603.100
28 April 1862
Writes of his regiment being ordered back to Newbern as soon as transportation can be arrived. Looks forward to going to a city and being able to read about the battle in a newspaper.
GLC03603.101
5 May 1862
Thanks his family for the package and mentions getting a prayer book, a bag of tea, sardines, gumdrops and a set of brushes and combs. Written "South of Newbern," likely in North Carolina.
GLC03603.102
8 May 1862
Writes of setting up new tents and using boards from the "Rebel fort" as a floor. Says that the 8th Regiment was ordered to Newbern to recruit. Complains about the lack of good and accurate press regarding the 8th Regiment and says that they have...
GLC03603.103
12 May 1862
Writes that he needs to study his "Tactics" because he makes blunders while drilling his Division. Written "Near Newbern," in North Carolina.
GLC03603.104
13 May 1862
Writes that he is showing his new servant, "Napoleon," how to make baked beans with molasses. Discusses the difficulties he is having with his new position, particularly the Battalion drills. Written from "Camp on the Neuse."
GLC03603.105
14 May 1862
Writes about the troubles involved in sleeping in a tent and of his ill luck with receiving boxes sent by his family.
GLC03603.106
15 May 1862
Writes of receiving a compliment from the Colonel and the Major regarding the condition of his Company during an inspection of the camp. Company B was not used to receiving compliments and Coit writes that the men "were exceedingly pleased" and that...
GLC03603.107
20 May 1862
Writes about his servant, formerly an enslaved man, selling his old horse, The Governor, for $100, of another officer having "the piles" which is apparently common among the men and that he is the one who is to seize the liquor sent to soldiers in...
GLC03603.108
May 25, 1862
Writes of some men from his company bringing him pints of blackberries that they had picked. Also writes about the task of confiscating liquor from the boxes which were sent to the men. His thoughts on this responsibility illustrate his ideas about...
GLC03603.109
1 June 1862
Writes in defense of Dr. Storrs, the new Company doctor. Explains that many dislike him because he does not take time enquiring about their feelings but rather works from an intuitive doctor's sense. He also inspects sanitary conditions in the camp...
GLC03603.110
2 June 1862
Writes that he has sent $250 home.
GLC03603.111
4 June 1862
Writes that he is to report to the jail for Court Martial duty. Is resistant to go because he does not know anyone he will be serving with. Writes that though he is supposed to be relieved of his duty to his Company during this time, he does not...
GLC03603.112
16 June 1862
Writes of the officers confronting the Chaplain with his nosy behavior. They report that he is writing home with detrimental news of the regiment.
GLC03603.113
June 23, 1862
Writes that he hopes to have a tailor in the company make his a coat if his family will send fabric. Is also excited that his company plans to raise up a band.
GLC03603.115
28 June 1862
Tells of Colonel Harland being asked to command a Brigade consisting of the 8th, 11th of Connecticut and 4th of Rhode Island regiments making him a Colonel Commanding with the powers of a Brigadier. Coit is very sad as Harland will have his offices...
GLC03603.116
29 June 1862
Writes of having command to the picket of his brigade. The brigade is 20 miles from Richmond and Coit writes of his uncertainty of the mission's plan. Also mentions hoping to be involved in the capture of Richmond. The Division has been reassigned...
GLC03603.117
1 July 1862
Writes that all of the previous orders have been changed and that they are departing on a new mission the next morning.
GLC03603.118
5 July 1862
Writes of leaving Newbern by train and waiting to board a steam ship that would take the troops to an unknown destination. Before the steam ship can depart, word comes from General Burnside of the capture of Richmond and negates the need for the...
GLC03603.119
7 July 1862
Writes of the trip to Fort Monroe by boat. There are speculations as to their destination but Coit believes they are being sent as reinforcements to General McClellan. Writes, "I shall go into battle confident that God will again show forth his great...
GLC03603.120
29 January 1863-31 December 1863
Averell, William W., 1832-1900
[Loose notes and pressed flowers inside William Averell's Civil War diaries] [Decimalized .01- .06]
Accompanied by three war-era notes from 1862 and three pressed flowers, originally contained in Union General Averell's Civil War-era diaries (see GLC06581.01-.03). One note a receipt from E. Owen & Son dated 26 December 1862, another on 1862 Army...
GLC06581.04
2 August 1862
Writes that they have been ordered away with an unknown destination. Expresses distaste at new enlistees being given bounties. Instead, he believes that the states should draft men and attempt to refill the old regiments. Writes, "I can hardly keep...
GLC03603.130
4 August 1862
Describes the passage, by boat, to Acquia Creek from Newport News. Also writes that the officers plan to erect a monument to Dr. Lathrop and that he will consult with the doctor's widow to see what she would like done. Makes reference to a monument...
GLC03603.131
9 August 1862
Writes of traveling by train to Fredericksburg. Requests news of how the recruitment is going in Connecticut. Does not believe that his regiment will see fighting in Richmond because the Union troops greatly outnumber the rebel troops.
GLC03603.132
28 August 1862
Writes of preparing to leave Fredericksburg: "This is the first time we have shown the enemy our backs, the first time we have been ordered to run and I hope the last time." In a note on the 30th says that they were expecting to fight but that the...
GLC03603.139
3 September 1862
Writes about the retreat from Fredericksburg and thanks his mother for the rubber coat she sent him. Writes more about Lieutenant Eaton's condition, which he says is deteriorating.
GLC03603.140
6 September 1862
Writes of the compliments that the 8th Regiment has received on their marching skills. Describes his uniform fading and the bright uniforms of the new enlistees. Writes, "The large bounties being paid to new Regts are killing the spirits of all the...
GLC03603.141
10 September 1862
Writes, "We are after Jackson. Burnside commands us and we are strong." They have heard a rumor that Jackson is in Pennsylvania with 100,000 troops.
GLC03603.142
25 September 1862
Reports that they have been ordered to Harpers Ferry. Writes that he will be unable to take his furlough because of Lieutenant Eaton's and Lieutenant Shepard's injuries from battle. Requests that newspapers with stories about the battle be saved or...
GLC03603.146
10 October 1862
Describes the views from the march from Antietam. Also predicts that Colonel Harland will soon be promoted to Brigadier, but is concerned that the Colonel will not ask men to be references in his favor. Writes about the other men he is sharing a tent...
GLC03603.151
16 October 1862
Writes that Charlie Johnson left after visiting from Norwich for five days. Writes that he is more homesick than ever and hopes that the 8th Regiment will be sent to Connecticut to recruit new soldiers and supplement their depleted ranks.
GLC03603.155
20 October 1862
Writes that the regiment is in need of knapsacks and dress coats. Believes that he will be sent to Washington to pick up the needed items. Describes his soldier's coat and requests that his mother send new shirts. Writes that all but three of...
GLC03603.156
22 October 1862
Describes the new suit he purchased and the errands he ran for the regiment. This included arranging baggage transportation and passes for himself and the ten men that are along to help him. Writes of seeing General McClellan and his wife and baby at...
GLC03603.157
25 October 1862
Writes that he arrived back to camp with the supplies much earlier than expected. The regiment has been given orders to march the next morning and rumor has it that they are traveling 6-8 miles down the river to Berlin.
GLC03603.158
31 October 1862
Describes the journey from Pleasant Valley and the activities of the other officers in the new camp. Writes that he dreads the idea of a winter campaign and also writes about his tent, blanket, and food situation in comparison to that of the enlisted...
GLC03603.159
17 November 1862
Writes that he plans to send most of his supplies home and only carry a small bag. Also writes more about the new chain of command within his Grand Division.
GLC03603.164
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